Mail-pouch catcher and deliverer.



B. J. LAHAN.

MAIL POUCH GATCHER AND DBLIVBRBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1909.

M 9T Am 3 N m S d m m P E. J. LAHAN.

MAIL POUCH OATCHER AND DELIVERBR.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 1, 1909.

969,964. Patented Sept. 13,1910.

A?" 4/ tv Ht /6 1n: NORRIS Plrnu cm, wunmorou, 0 cv EDWARD J. LAHAN,

OF QUINCY,

ILLINOIS.

MAIL-POUCH CATCI-IER AND DELIVERER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. LAIIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Pouch Catchers and Deliverers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices ing and delivering mail pouches from and to moving trains and has for its object the provision of an apparatus that will insure the delivery of the pouch from the train to the station and dispense with the danger of the pouch getting under the train and also will insure the delivery of the pouch from the station to the train at the same time.

My invention comprises a box mounted on the platform of the station so constructed as to catch and hold the pouch delivered from the train and with a crane mounted thereon to deliver the pouch of mail to the for catchtrain, the box and crane being provided' with flaring guides to insure proper working of the device, and the box with a spring buffer to receive the impact of the pouch delivered to the box.

The construction and operation of my invention will be described hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing my improved catcher and deliverer and the mail car with its operating arm associated therewith, Fig. 2, a side view partly in section of the box and crane, Fig. 3, an end view, Fig. 4, a detail View of the part on the mail car.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

1 indicates the apparatus mounted on the station platform consistin of the box portion 2 having the base 3 of larger area than the box bottom, and a slanting pedestal 4 to support the box portion 2, this structure insuring the box from tipping over from the impact of the pouch striking it when being delivered from the train as hereinafter described. The base 3 is formed with longitudinal grooves 5 that fit over rails (3 secured to the platform A, said rails forming guides for the apparatus which is slidably mounted thereon to permit it to give to the force of the impact of the delivered pouch,

and the base is also provided with spring Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 7, 1909.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

Serial No. 506,266.

butters 7 projecting from its ends to break the force of the impact of the structure in striking any projection on the platform such as anchors secured thereto to prevent excessive movement of appa 'atus l.

The box portion 2 is open at its two ends as shown at 8 and longitudinally of its top as shown at 9, the top being provided with overhanging portions 10 so as to narrow the opening 9. The ends of the box 2 are pro vided with flaring guides 11 at each side and under the openings 8 therein to guide the pouch into the box when being delivered as hereinafter described.

12 indicates a flange extending upright from the inner edge of overhanging portion 10 at the rear of the box and 13 posts secured to the rear side of the box.

14 indicates rods slidably mounted in holes in flange 12 and posts 13 and having an inverted channel-slmped guide 15 secured thereto with flaring ends 16 and with a lever 17 pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends on shaft 18 secured in guide 15, said lever 17 being adapted to receive and hold the pouch B containing the mail for the train, a link C secured to the pouch being mounted on the arm of the lever farthest from the direction in which the train is approaching. Knobs or protuberances l7 are provided on the top of said lever and near the ends thereof to hold the link (J in place on the arm until removed by the catcher on the car to be hereinafter described.

19 indicates springs mounted on rods let on each side of flange 12 and bearing against said flange and pins 20 or other device secured to said rods, said springs operating as buffers to permit transverse play of the guide 15.

21 indicates a partition slidably mounted on rods 22 in box 2, 23 indicating springs mounted on said rods 22 and bearing against each side of the partition and agamst pins 2% or other suitable device secured to the rods, said springs acting as buffers for said partition. The upper portion of the'partition 21 has an overhanging portion 25 on each side to insure delivery of the mail pouch to the box from the arm on the car.

The bottom of box 2 is formed higher at the middle and sloped to the ends as shown at 26 and provided with apertures 26 at the end of said sloping portions to let out rain water, dirt, etc.

27 indicates a bar secured across the door D of car E and having a curved brace 28 secured thereto, said bar and brace being formed with slots 29 in alinement with one another and in which is mounted the rod 30 secured to cross arm 81 intermediate of its ends.

31 indicates knobs or protuberances adjacent to the ends of said cross arm 31 to prevent the mail pouch B sliding ofl the arm before being delivered 'to or after being caught from the apparatus 1.

In operation the pouch B to be delivered from the car to the station is hung on the arm of cross-arm 31 toward the rear of the train while the pouch B to be delivered to the train is hung on the arm of lever 17 farthest from the approaching train. WVhen the mail car approaches the station the mail clerk adjusts the cross-arm 31 so that its forward end passes between the flared end 16 of guide 15. The forward end of the cross-arm 31 passes through link C on pouch B hung on lever 17 and removes it therefrom while at about the same time the pouch on the rearwardly extending arm of crossarm 31 strikes the partition 21 and is removed from the cross arm and falls into the box 2.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends, and a slidable partition midway of its ends.

2. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends and longitudinally of its top, and a slidable partition midway of its ends.

3. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends, and a spring mounted partition midway of its ends.

1. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends and longitudinally of its top, and a spring mounted partition midway of its ends.

5. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends, rods secured longitudinally of the box, a partition slidably mounted on said rods, and springs secured to the rods and bearing against the two sides of the partition.

6. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends and longitudinally of its top, rods secured longitudinally of the box, a partition slidably mounted on said rods, and springs secured to the rods and bearing against the two sides of the partition.

7 In a mail pouch catcher and delivered, an inverted channel-shaped guide, and a lever for holding the mail pouch pivotally secured in said guide.

8. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, an inverted channel-shaped guide having flared ends, and a lever for holding the mail pouch pivotally secured in said guide.

9. Ina mail pouch catcher and deliverer, rods slidably mounted, an inverted channelshaped guide secured to said rods, and a lever for holding the mail pouch "pivotally secured in said guide.

10. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, rods slidably mounted, an inverted channelshaped guide having flared ends secured to said rods, and a lever for holding the mail pouch pivotally secured in said guide.

11. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, rods slidably mounted in suitable supports, springs secured to the rods and bearing against the supports, a guide secured to said rods, and a lever for holding the mail pouch pivotally secured to said guide.

12. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, rods slidably mounted in suitable supports, springs secured to the rods and bearing against the supports, an inverted channelshaped guide secured to said rods, and a lever for holding the mail pouch pivotally secured in said guide.

13. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, rods slidably mounted in suitable supports, springs secured to the rods and bearing against the supports, an inverted channelshaped guide having flaring ends secured to said rods, and a lever for holding the mail pouch pivotally secured in said guide.

14:. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends, a slidable partition midway of its two ends, an inverted channel-shaped guide mounted on the top of said box, and a lever pivotally secured to said guide.

15. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends, a spring mounted partition midway of its two ends, an inverted channel-shaped guide mounted on the top of said box, and a lever pivotally secured to said guide.

16. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends, a slidable partition midway of its two ends, an inverted channelshaped guide mounted on the top of said box and having flaring ends, and a lever pivotally secured to said guide.

17. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends, a spring mounted partition midway of its two ends, an inverted channel-shaped guide mounted on the top of said box, and having flaring ends, and a lever pivotally secured to said guide.

18. In a mail pouch catcher and deliverer, a box open at its two ends and longitudinally of its top, an overhanging portion extending partway over the open top from the two sides, a flange extending upwardly from one of said overhanging portions, posts secured to the box, said flange and posts having holes disposed oppositely to one another, rods slidably mounted in said holes, an inverted channel-shaped guide mounted on the top of said box, a lever pivotally secured to said guide, and a partition in the box intermediate of its ends.

19. A mail pouch catcher and deliverer comprising a box open at its two ends and longitudinally of its top, an overhanging portion extending partway over the open top from the two sides, a flange extending upwardly from one of said overhanging portions, posts secured to the box, said flange and posts having holes disposed oppositely to one another, rods slidably mounted in said holes, springs secured to said rods and engaging each side of the flange aforesaid, an inverted channel-shaped guide mounted on the top of said box, a lever pivotally secured to said guide, and a slidable partition in the box intermediate of its ends.

20. A mail pouch catcher and deliverer comprising a box open at its two ends and longitudinally of its top, an overhanging portion extending partway over the open top from the two sides, a flange extending upwardly from one of said overhanging portions, posts secured to the box, said flange and posts having holes disposed oppositely to one another, rods slidably mounted in said holes, springs secured to said rods and engaging each side of the flange aforesaid, an inverted channel-shaped guide mounted on the top of said box, a lever pivotally secured to said guide, rods secured to and extending longitudinally of the box, a partition slidably mounted on said rods, and springs secured to said rods and bearing against the two sides of the partition.

21. A mail pouch catcher and deliverer comprising a box slidably mounted, spring buffers secured to its base, said box being open at its two ends and longitudinally of its top, an overhanging portion extending partway over the open top from the two sides, a flange extending upwardly from one of said overhanging portions, posts secured to the box, said flange and posts having holes disposed oppositely to one another, rods slidably mounted in said holes, springs secured to said rods and engaging each side of the flange aforesaid, an inverted channelshaped guide mounted on the top of said box, a lever pivotally secured to said guide, rods secured to and extending longitudinally of the box, a partition slidably mounted on said rods, and springs secured to said rods and bearing against the two sides of the partition.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J. LAHAN.

*itnesses A. F. CRU'rrENDnN, Fnnnmxxo RonlsoN. 

